HOUSTON – Two days after a 12-year-old girl was found dead in a north Houston creek, medical examiners have confirmed the girl’s identity.
Jocelyn Nungaray was found in a creek at 400 W. Rankin Road around 6:15 a.m. Monday.
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On Tuesday, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled the 12-year-old died from strangulation.
On Tuesday night, Houston police released surveillance photos from the 7-Eleven convenience store where the girl was last seen. In these images, investigators saw two persons of interest they would like to question in connection to the girl’s death.
Investigators told KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry the two men were the last to be seen with the girl, and they seemed to have first encountered her at the store.
UPDATE: Our homicide detectives want to speak with these two male persons of interest regarding the death of a 12-year-old female at 400 West Rankin Rd.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 19, 2024
If you recognize them, please call HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or @CrimeStopHOU
More info at https://t.co/J5pnr9nXpc https://t.co/RpFpzjsSX7 pic.twitter.com/N9RZew2kqu
New photos released
On Wednesday, a source gave KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel new surveillance photos of Jocelyn at the convenience store around 12:17 a.m. Monday.
In the video, she reportedly came back to the store where she and the man in the white hat were at the door around 12:58 a.m.
Family track’s Jocelyn’s cellphone
After the girl wasn’t at home, the grandmother said her mother tracked her cellphone to the creek. What she found has been too emotional to discuss, she said.
“We should not have to worry about 12-year-olds being raped and murdered in the City of Houston. Horrible,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said at a city council meeting Tuesday.
The grandmother said the girl and her family had recently moved to the area near Rankin Road and Kuykendahl Road. She described her as quiet, independent, smart and sweet. She dreamed of being an actress, and she loved music and spending time with her brother, she said.
Jocelyn’s uncle, Joamel Guevara, said “Jocy was a smart, loving, nurturing young lady.”
“She brightened up the room every time she came by and was loved by everyone around. She had no reason to die the way she did. She was always smiling and enjoyed time with us (her family) she was her little brother Elias’ role model. My sister, nephew, and family deserve justice! We will not sleep until justice is served and these predators are in the Harris County Jail. In God’s name we pray!”
The family has set up a GoFundMe for a tribute to Jocelyn. They also told us that they are planning a memorial for her, and they’ll let us know when an official date is set.
The family asked for help in getting the perpetrators off the streets.
Anyone with information on the identities of the two persons of interest or in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.